Emergency Department

The Midland site’s Emergency Department provides 24-hour emergency service to the residents and visitors of North Simcoe. Emergency staff sees an average of 120 people a day, with volumes sometime doubling during the summer months. Annual emergency visits last year were 45,000.

GBGH had some 45,000 visits to the Emergency Department last year (representing almost 82% of the permanent population the hospital serves) and was able to meet provincial wait time targets in most instances.

Critical patients requiring transfer to a hospital offering another level of care are transferred using CritiCall, a provincial service which finds an accepting hospital and also makes the arrangements for transport.

The emergency department is supported by internal medicine, general surgery, ophthalmology, dentistry, obstetrics, and gynecology services. Patients requiring other specialties are referred to other health care facilities.

Tips for Using the Emergency Department

Come to the ED only when necessary:

If you have a family doctor close by, call the office first during open hours to determine whether you can be seen there.

If you go to the ED, go prepared:

If possible, come in the morning – waiting times can be shorter then.

Come prepared with your health card and at least one other piece of photo identification that includes your current address (make sure your health card has not expired).

Bring reading materials, knitting, or other hobbies to help pass the time.

Do not bring any more people with you than absolutely necessary. This will help lessen congestion in the waiting room.

Be a “patient” patient or family member:

Patients are seen based on the severity of their condition. You may have arrived first, but a patient in critical condition or an ambulance carrying car accident victims may arrive during the same time period and they will usually require our immediate attention.

Please remember that the ED staff and doctors are working very hard and often under stressful situations, but you will be cared for as soon as time allows.

Privacy

In order to respect the privacy of other patients you are asked to wait your turn in the waiting room rather than stand in the halls. Family members and/ or visitors are restricted to one at a time and may be asked to wait in the waiting room at certain times.

Drug Stores

The hospital does not have a pharmacy for dispensing drugs for Emergency patients. The staff can provide information on local pharmacies upon request.

Emergency Parking

There is an emergency drop off area only and then you will have to move your vehicle to the parking lot. The drop off area must be clear at all times. The hospital is not responsible if a violation ticket is issued. After dropping off a patient, your car should be moved to the hospital parking lot where you will be required to pay $3 per hour up to a maximum of $7 for a 24-hour period.

Bring your ticket with you as you must pay for parking inside the hospital.